Richard Gilder Graduate School

Alvaro Keding/© AMNH

Earn your Ph.D. at the Museum

The Richard Gilder Graduate School Ph.D. Program in Comparative Biology offers unparalleled access to the resources of the American Museum of Natural History, including its world-renowned collections, exceptional natural history library of more than 550,000 scientific volumes, and more than 45 distinguished faculty members.

Our Program's Unique Approach

  • A legacy of leadership in field and theoretical sciences
  • A long tradition of interdisciplinary approaches to research
  • A public mission, providing a bridge between science and society
  • Access to one of the world's greatest natural history collections

Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2025 Admission!

APPLY NOW »

Deadline to Apply for Fall 2025 Admission: December 15, 2024

 

Congratulations to the 2024 Graduates!

Find out more about the three doctoral graduates and their areas of study.

Meet the Graduates »

Featured Faculty 

Dr. Nathalie Goodkin

Professor and Curator, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Division of Physical Sciences. Dr. Goodkin’s research is focused on understanding and using coral geochemistry to reconstruct ocean-atmosphere interactions, climate behavior, and pollution histories over the past 500 years.

Learn More »
Professor and Curator, Dr. Nathalie Goodkin is seated next to a table in the lab with scientific equipment.
Dr. Ashley S. Hammond

Associate Professor and Associate Curator of Biological Anthropology, Division of Anthropology. Dr. Hammond works on the fossil record for hominoid (ape and human) evolution in East Africa. Her interests in human origins centers on the evolution of locomotor behaviors, especially bipedal locomotion, which is the hallmark of the human lineage.

Learn More »
Ashley Hammond in the field.

Volunteer with RGGS

The Richard Gilder Graduate School has an opening for a smart, dedicated volunteer to assist with many facets of the School’s work. Duties will range from data entry, proofreading and filing, to higher level projects such as conducting online research, assembling and sharing information, and assisting with special events.

Experience working in Excel and Word is necessary. The hours are flexible within Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm. To be considered, complete this application.

The Museum expresses its utmost appreciation to the late Richard Gilder, a steadfast and most generous benefactor and friend whose visionary philanthropy enabled the Museum to establish the Gilder Graduate School. 

Additional support for the Richard Gilder Graduate School has been generously provided by Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., Gerstner Family Foundation; the National Science Foundation; the Annette Kade Charitable Trust; and the Maxwell | Hanrahan Foundation.